DAVID Kelly played an epic 749 senior games and scored 250 goals in a playing career spanning 19 seasons with nine different English league clubs and one in Scotland.

But the former Republic of Ireland international striker will always pick out his time at Tranmere when identifying the highlights of his journey through football.

Kelly describes his goal for Rovers in the 2000 Worthington Cup final as "the best feeling I have had in football."

He added: "I scored lots of important goals down the years and got one in my debut for Ireland. But the goal against Leicester City at Wembley was miles ahead of them all."

The 43-year-old Brummie, currently assistant manager at Nottingham Forest, will be among the scores of former Tranmere players, coaches and managers returning to Prenton Park for John Achterberg's testimonial game on Monday evening.

He says he relishes the prospect of being reunited with teammates who made the historic trip to the twin towers nine years ago.

Kelly said: "I can remember, before the second leg of the semi-final against Bolton, saying to lads on the coach that none of us might get the chance to get to a major cup final in our careers again so let's not mess this up. Of course we didn't, we went through 4-0 on aggregate.

"It was such a special time. I stayed awake for four days before the final because I did not want to miss a thing.

"I would get up in the night and go knocking on people's doors to say: 'we are in a cup final in two days!' I was like a 12-year-old."